Travel Tips For Flying With Children

Ideally when time for vacation comes many parents decide to take their children out for a long holiday package in a lovely exotic location or at their relative’s house. But have you ever thought of that flying with your children of any age can be a nerve-wracking as well as challenging experience. It is a matter of concern among the parents on how their children react or behave in the airport or in the flight. Parents worry about how their toddlers will behave in a new environment where they get enough of space to run around, chat and become palls with unfamiliar faces, but also about the reaction of other flyers around you bother on the behavior of you children. Here in my article I am sharing some of my magic tips to such parents who can with a smart planning can henceforth make their flying hassle free with their children.
1.Children tend to come up with new playful ideas expect to roam around the lobby shout with their siblings or with other children, but instead they are made to sit for hours in a particular place and not allowed to move at all, as a result children throw tantrums on plane as they sound confused and scared with the unfamiliar environment of airport, airplane. So start preparing your children by just taking them to the airport on a weekend or any day and show what people do their, like standing in lines, going through security check etc. And while returning way back home take your children for a lunch or dinner in a hotel or restaurant to make a habit eating away from home.
2.While booking a flight keep in mind to book a non-stop flight. Flying during non rush hours like late at night or midday, Mondays to Wednesdays will give less crowed while flying, so that you can get a free space for your child’s safety seat and your child can get chance to relax and sleep comfortably.
3.Parents should reserve their seats earlier, it will not only get seat of your choice but also both parents and children can seat together. Book a window side seat for your children as they would love to watch the view from the window during flying, and your seat should be next to you child so that you both can sit together can you can keep a watch on their needs.
4.Children under age 15 are not allowed to sit in the emergency exit row so while booking the ticket parents should mention that they are flying with children. Other wise during the time of flying if parents come across such seats they will be moved from their seats to a new seat and the new seat may not be a contiguous seats.
5.Ask for a lap restraint if your child is traveling under a �lap child� fare .It is for your child’s security, if incase the plane goes under turbulence your child does not get hurt in the process. It’s just a strap that passes through your seat belt.
6.Enquire about special services given by the airlines during flight as some airlines have special services arrangements for children such as by providing them with model airplanes, sets of puzzle, games toys etc. �Baby kits� with diapers and other amenities are also provided.
7.Go through the airline’s website and search for all the required information about flying with children. The information that you get can be of great help when you fly. Also check with your airline authority about pre-booking of baby bassinet the day before travel.
8.Before boarding the plane parents should enquire about all the applicable custom’s rule and appropriate federal regulations regarding your child’s meal during flying from travel agent or from the airline’s website. Restriction of some edible items are done by the airline’s custom department such as any dairy product are not allowed into the US, On international flight healthy snacks like apple or banana are seized by the custom’s. Ask for the special children meal incases meals are served on the flight.
9.Allow your child to carry their own small backpack smaller the kid, the smaller the pack, but every one carries their own bags. Children when carries their own bags they feel independent as if they have grown-up, parents can also be benefited from carrying less bags and freely move their hands to give safety direction while moving walkways, make sure that your child’s bag contains his favorite toys, reading books, game books, drawing books, colourfull crayons, teddy bear this will keep your children quite and busy in the airport and during flying. If electronic games are brought make sure that they are not used during take off or landing and the sound should not be so high that it should disturb the co-travellers.
10.Don’t forget to visit a pharmacy store before flying and buy all the needed medicines for your children, it includes cough syrup as well for your medical kit, which can be in need for your children during flying.
11.Many airlines does not provide food except for peanuts even if flight promises a meal many young children may not like what airlines are offering, parent’s bag should always contain enough of foodstuff such as a bottle of juice or milk for small children but remember security now days does not let you to carry more than 3 ounces of liquid so carry an empty cup and fill it up with juice during flying, snacks, hard candy, lollypops or chewing gum helps to cope up with the air pressure, which takes place during takeoff and landing. If you are planning for a warm climate never carry food that will melt or get rotten. Snacks and drinks will divert the child’s mind and make them happy during flying.
12.In case of emergency changing always carry in your cabin bag an extra pair of clothes; temperature inside the flight is cold so carry an extra sweater or jacket for all the children at their seat along with you. Since bathrooms in the airplane are small for smooth nappy change carry handy things like a nappy, nappy sack, cotton wool, small pack of wipes, tube of lotion, hand towel and lightweight plastic change mat along with you whenever your child need to visit the bathroom.
13.If your children have never flown earlier, then in a format of story telling explain them in brief about all the process through which they have to pass for boarding into the flight, make your children assure that they will have lots of fun in airport and during flying, also give an idea of normal engine noises and the bumpiness during flying, so that it wont scare your child when he come across such situations and will enjoy the travel with full of excitement and enthusiasm without any crying or shouting at the top most voice.
14.When the day of flying comes reach airport one hour early if it is a domestic flights and two hours for international flights, so that you can give plenty of time in the airport for check-in and boarding process, this will not lead to any panic among the among the children as well as among the parents, allow the children to explore the airport but keep an observation on them so that they don’t get away from your eye sight, If there is a need to go to wash room take your children along with you don’t leave them alone in the airport lounge to look after your luggage or your sitting place. Incase if you don’t find your child in his place don’t panic without any hesitation inform the airport authorities if you are in airport or flight attainders when flying, they will help you locate your lost children. Lastly don’t forget to put a sweet or helpless smile at anyone it may help you while standing in a queue or while in a security check.
15.Parents should make a fast move towards security after the check-in is done. Never send your children alone for security check first one adult would go then followed by the children, the other adult should come at last If you are flying alone then allow your children to go first so that they don’t left behind. Show your children how security check of other travelers is done, talk to them earlier about the need and importance of security check done before flying including the idea of removing of their shoes and to give up their favorite stuffed teddy bear.
16.Remind older children to take responsibility of their own luggage and should be able to put them through the x-ray. Security people take extra care towards the children by taking less time checking their stuffed toys and giving it right back as soon as it is done.
17.Always be attentive in the airport because you never know when airport authority may fell pity on you and allow you and your children both to pass through handicapped lane instead of passing through a big, noisy time consuming regular lane. Be prompt to understand the signal given to shift the lane and take the opportunity to pass through handicapped lane which will be less time consuming and convenient.
18.As you get busy with carrying luggage from the carousel or showing needed documents to the airline or custom immigration officials, carrying a set of reins or a harness for you small child so that he can happily walk around the lobby without disturbing you, may lead to some relief while doing your work.
19.Keep a watch on your children more than the luggage being inspected. Once you are done with all the procedures of security check-in and with screening of your luggage through x-ray machine, as soon as possible carry your necessary items like handbag, money and tickets, grab your kid along with you and move from there.
Knowing that much worse stuff can happen like, lost luggage, vomit, dirty stained clothes, sleepless travel, but by just being prepared for, will make it easier to handle things. At the end it requires a basic level intelligence of parents to keep in mind that when they bring a kid on a flight, they better keep him or her happy. Showing a great time to your children is the first goal and getting them back home safe and healthy is your second goal. So don’t panic and enjoy the vacations with your kids.